Editorial board of Waynakh Online has received an appeal which address to the President of European Committee for the Prevention of Torture on the alarming situation of Chechen-Ingush prisoners in Omsk Penal Colony-2 in Russia.

Here is the appeal:

To: Mr Latif Huseynov
President of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Subject: Inhumane Treatment and Torture in Omsk Penal Colony-2 in the Russian Federation

02.09.2012

Dear Mr President,

I am writing you this letter in reference to the alarming situation facing Chechen-Ingush prisoners in Russia’s Omsk Penal Colony No.2.

Information which I received from reliable independent media sources claims that Chechen-Ingush prisoners are subjected to “inhumane treatment and torture” in Omsk Penal Colony No.2 in Russia. Unfortunately, it is not the only prison within the Russian Federation in which the basic rights of Chechen-Ingush prisoners are violated.

As you know very well, there is a strict prohibition on the use of “brutal or inhumane means” against prisoners or detainees. This conclusion is in perfect accord with various international treaties, including the “European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” – to which the Russian Federation is a signatory – which prohibits the use of “torture, cruel, inhumane treatment” and “degrading treatment”! These prohibitions are “absolute”. There are no exceptions to them and there is no room for negotiation. However, one of your organization’s member states, the Russian Federation, does not respect these rules and violates the basic rights of prisoners, especially the ones who have Chechen-Ingush origins.

You are heading a unique international body which may investigate these claims and use sanctions against the Russian Federation. For this reason, I am asking you to examine the situation deeply. You must conduct an immediate investigation and form an independent commission that includes Chechen and Ingush human rights defenders as well as leading non-governmental human rights organizations in Europe.

I hope that you will not ignore my appeal because only with your action, the pain of these prisoners will end and the responsible parties will be brought to justice.

Best Regards,

Advocate A.Burak Oztas
A member of Istanbul (Turkey) Bar Association with registration number 36839